One infant who was given overdoses of the blood thinner heparin died Tuesday morning (July 8). The mistake that lead to the widespread overdose at Christus Spohn Hospital South in Corpus Christi occurred in the pharmacy last Thursday where personnel mistakenly mixed the pediatric version of heparin with other solutions, including saline.  Two pharmacy staffers are on voluntary leave until the investigation is resolved.
          The deceased infant was already very sick before the heparin overdose, so hospital officials do not know yet how much the drug affected the infant’s health. The pending autopsy will tell for sure.
          The pharmaceutical error was discovered by nurses running routine blood work. Though heparin is commonly prescribed to newborns (especially those born prematurely), too much heparin can cause serious damage. So far, at least 17 babies at Christus Spohn are known to have received overdoses.

          A second infant, the twin sister of the newborn boy that died Wednesday, also died at the hospital. The cause of death has not been determined.
          Though the autopsy of the brother showed his death was not caused by a heparin overdose, the parents have been granted a temporary restraining order that will keep the twins’ hospital records intact.
          The twins were born 4 weeks early at Christus Spohn Hospital Alice. They were transferred to Christus Spohn Hospital South that same day.

          Christus Spohn Hospital South in Corpus Christi has admitted fault in the heparin overdose scandal that erupted last week when as many as 17 infants were given 100 times the normal dose.
          So far, one pair of twins has died and other infants remain ill. The family of the deceased newborns is demanding answers and accountability from the hospital.

          Approximately one in 15 children is subjected to an accidental overdose, serious adverse drug reaction, or medical mix up in a hospital.
          The lawyers at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP are experienced Texas birth trauma and medical malpractice attorneys who work to protect you and your family from negligent doctors and hospitals.

            The American Association for Justice (AAJ) conducted an extensive investigation to determine the worst insurance companies in America. These include homeowners and auto insurers, health insurers, life insurers, and disability insurers. 

            According to AAJ, Allstate is placed at the top of the worst insurance provider list; this is largely due to the fact that their primary mission is to “earn a return for the shareholders.” As a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) said, “The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims.” Allstate even goes so far as to distribute corporate training manuals explaining how to avoid payments, and portable refrigerators are awarded to the adjusters who deny the most claims. Former employees have called Allstate’s approach to claims the “three D’s”: deny, delay, and defend. 

            The top 10 list produced by AAJ, includes the following insurance companies:

                             Profits                          Assets

Allstate             $4.6 billion                    $156.4 billion

Unum               $679 million                  $52.4 billion

AIG                    $6.2 billion                    $1.06 trillion

State Farm       $5.5 billion                    $181.4 billion

Conseco          $179.9 million               $33.5 billion

WellPoint         $3.2 billion                     $51.6 billion

Farmers            $5.6 billion                    $387.7 billion

UnitedHealth    $4.7 billion                    $53.5 billion

Torchmark        $527.5 million               $15.2 billion

Liberty Mutual  $1.5 billion                     $94.7 billion

 

            It seems that the insurance industry has lost sight of the policyholders, and as Allstate’s CEO said, they have “begun to think and act more like a consumer products company.” However, pro-consumer insurance reforms are being pushed, among these are: requiring insurers to work in good faith with consumers, requiring prior approval of rate increases, and establishing an insurance consumer advocate.

            Do not assume that because you are purchasing insurance you will always be protected, and keep these names in mind the next time you purchase insurance. For more information on AAJ’s findings, and more specific information regarding individual companies, read the full report at http://www.justice.org/docs/TenWorstInsuranceCompanies.pdf